Chapter Text
“Next student, please introduce yourself.”
Mei stood up.
“Aihara Mei, it’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
As Mei sat back down she continued to look through this semester's calendar and the syllabus. She had already known a majority of her classmates' names and their types. Only one name made her look up slightly.
“Okogi Yuzu, it’s a pleasure to meet you all. I hope we can all have a wonderful third year together.”
Yuzu and Mei had been in the same class all three years of high school but neither had said a word to each other. They were from two different worlds never needing to interact. Mei was a dominant alpha from a very prestigious family but you would never see her around any omegas unless they approached her first. She also never let her pheromones out. Everyone thought she was beautiful and untouchable. Yuzu on the other hand was one of the most popular omegas in the school. From a middle class family but her charisma and smile caught the eye of almost every alpha. However, Yuzu had never accepted any confessions in all three years. She was kind to everyone and drew people to her like magnets.
“Let us review this class's final project. You will draw a partner at random, then together draw a writer, and then finally choose a piece to write a detailed report on that you will present to the class at the end of the year. Let us begin.”
Yuzu was called up to draw her partner. She only wished it to be someone competent so she could continue focusing on her studies and prepare for the entrance exams. As she put her hand into the box the name she saw appear made her pause before saying it aloud.
“Ai.. Aihara Mei.”
Both girls made eye contact at the same time. Mei nodded her head and was about to write Yuzu’s name down before.
“Wait, teacher, that's not fair! They both have the highest grades in literature class.”
Hatsuharu said. Other classmates began agreeing as well.
“Well then I guess you’ll have to all work a bit harder to catch up. Next please.”
Matsumoto Hatsuharu was a dominant alpha. He came from a well known family and had been chasing after Yuzu since the second year. She always turned down his advances and kindly refused any gifts he’d try to offer. Whenever he leaked his pheromones near her she would politely excuse herself. It made him want her more and he was running out of time to finally make her his.
“…that is all for today. You are excused.”
Mei was packing up her things when the smell of cherry blossoms caught her attention and she looked up.
“I’m sorry to bother you but if your not busy, do you think we could go over the project materials and write out a plan?”
Wow.. her eyes are beautiful.. they’re such a deep purple.
“Yes, I was just headed to the library if you’d like to join me?”
“Wait! Yuzu, I thought we were going to karaoke today?”
Mei looked over to see five of her classmates huddled together waving Yuzu over.
“Ah, sorry guys maybe next time. I want to get ahead on this project. I’ll text you all later!”
Yuzu followed Mei out of the classroom and waved to her friends goodbye. As they were walking Yuzu noticed multiple people staring at them.
Mei led them to the very back of the library in a secluded area and both girls sat down and took out their materials.
“Shakespeare.. hmmm which play do you prefer Mei? Oh, I hope you don’t mind if I call you Mei.”
Yuzu looked up at Mei to find her looking over the reading list.
“Do as you wish. I like Macbeth but what of your preference?”
Yuzu smiled and blushed slightly as those dark violets looked at her with the utmost concentration.
“I would have to say Romeo and Juliet.. I know it’s kind of predict-“
“No, that will suffice.”
Yuzu had a confused look, but her eyes opened wide once she saw the subtle warm smile appear on Mei’s face.
“We’re presenting our report to the class and I’d prefer that they are engaged with the presentation. If you prefer Romeo and Juliet I’m making the assumption that the rest of the class does as well. I’ll start writing up a plan for the work.”
Yuzu nodded and felt a warm feeling in her heart.
“So we can meet once a week on Fridays to review the work we’ve done. Should we both start by borrowing a copy of Romeo and Juliet to take notes and compare next week?”
“Yes, that sounds great.”
Yuzu started to pack up when she realized Mei was taking out entrance exam documents.
“Ah you’ve already collected documents for entrance exams!?”
Mei was somewhat startled.
“Yes, I got them yesterday to start prepping.”
Yuzu leaned forward with an exhausted look on her face.
“I need to go get them too.. um Mei, which schools are you looking into?”
Mei pushed the three schools she was interested in over to Yuzu.
“I’m majoring in business and a minor in education.”
“Wow, you want to work in the education department?”
Mei was surprised by her question. The Aihara name was well known, it was the first time in years Mei had met someone who’d never heard of her.
“Yes, my family owns two academies and I’m to be the successor after my father.”
Yuzu was shocked. She knew Mei came from a wealthy family but she had no idea it was in the education department.
“Ah I’m looking at School XY as well. I hear their acceptance rate is pretty low..”
That school specialized in business and it was Mei’s first choice.
“What do you want to major in?”
Yuzu looked down and had a faint smile but Mei could see the pain in her eyes.
“I would like to be an Event Planner and run my own business.. but my family wants me to choose a more stable career or marry an alpha to start a family..”
Mei began writing in her notebook and Yuzu was about to get up and leave.
“An Event Panner is a very stable job once you build your clientele. It may take time but once you establish yourself you should be successful.. I also think it suits you very well.”
Yuzu blushed and was speechless. All of her friends had either laughed or agreed with her parents when she told them her plan but Mei.. she saw it from a business prospective and evaluated it as a successful career. Yuzu felt that warm feeling in her heart begin to spread and couldn’t help but reveal a beautiful smile.
Both girls continued to talk until the library announced that it was closing. Mei gracefully packed her things and as they were headed out of the school Yuzu didn’t even notice until they were in front of her house that Mei had walked her home.
Mei gave a polite bow and disappeared down the street. As Yuzu laid in bed she closed her eyes and remembered those dark violet eyes that showed nothing but kindness and consideration as they listened. Yuzu's eyes suddenly opened and she realized she was blushing.
What are you thinking Yuzu..
The first exams came fast and Mei told Yuzu she was going to put the project on hold to focus on studying. Yuzu was somewhat disappointed but agreed nonetheless. But on her way out of school she found herself walking to the library, to the very back and.. there she was. Yuzu couldn’t help but walk over.
“Hey, do you mind if I join you today?”
A subtle smile came over Mei but she made sure Yuzu didn’t notice.
Mei nodded.
The smell of cherry blossoms filled Mei’s senses and as she was about to speak she heard loud laughter approaching.
“Hey guys here she is!”
Hatsuharu, Harumi, Matsuri, and Nene all dropped their bags on the table and started taking out their books.
“Yuzu help me with math?”
“No, she has to help me with English first.”
“Can’t we go get something to eat instead?”
As Yuzu was trying to help and quiet everyone down, Mei packed her things and gracefully got up and excused herself.
“Geeez what’s her problem? We’re all trying to study.”
Yuzu was about to interject.
“Ah leave her be. She’s just the loner type. I actually heard last year that she might actually be a beta.”
“What!? No way!”
“Ya, apparently no one’s felt or smelled her pheromones. That’s literally impossible unless your a beta.”
Yuzu immediately felt agitation in her build up once she heard rumors concerning Mei.
“Guys let’s not talk about her behind her back. It’s none of our business. Let’s just get back to studying.”
After Yuzu made that statement everyone agreed. People didn’t know Mei and yet they were spreading rumors about her. She also hoped Mei wasn’t angry about her friends coming through to study..
Yuzu sighed.
As Mei walked home she found herself lost in thought at the frustration she felt for what just happened in the library.Yuzu came to study but her friends just wanted her to help them. Mei had started noticing that Yuzu always put her friends wants/needs before herself and for some reason it angered her. Before Mei realized she felt her pheromones leaking out and people nearby frozen in place. Mei immediately controlled herself and proceeded to walk home. This was the first time in a year that she had lost control.
Hmmm maybe I need to adjust my inhibitor dosage..
Once exams were finally done Yuzu felt a weight lifted off her shoulders and was filled with excitement over getting to go to the library after school.
“Hey Yuzu, we’re all gonna go out to eat to celebrate finishing exams, where do you wanna go? I’ll buy.”
Yuzu had pushed going out in general as exams had gotten closer and Hatsuharu was getting impatient. He needed to get closer to her.
Between the ages of 18-20 omegas can no longer control their heat without the assistance of a partner but specifically alpha pheromones. Once that happens it’s not surprising that marriages are arranged shortly after. The heat can hit at any time and if you don’t find a partner you’re set up with whoever your family can find. A majority of omegas don’t choose to wait till this heat comes before messing around though. It was actually rare to find virgins and Hatsuharu knew Yuzu was one.
“Oh sorry guys. I’m gonna head to the library to work on the literature final. I’ll catch up with you guys later.”
As Yuzu was about to walk away Hatsuharu grabbed her wrist and began leaking out his pheromones.
“We just finished exams. You don’t need to work on that project right now. Come on, take a break.”
Hatsuharu was squeezing harder and it was starting to hurt. Yuzu also covered her nose.
“Hey Haru, let go! You're hurting her.”
Harumi hit his hand away and checked Yuzu's wrist. A slight bruise was forming.
“I’m sorry Yuzu I didn’t mean to squeeze so hard but I really want-“
Harumi interjected.
“That doesn’t give you the right to grab her! Yuzu why don’t you go to the nurses office before going to the library. I’m sure Aihara will still be in there once your done.”
Yuzu nodded and left.
Hatsuharu was furious.
“All she wants to do is hang out in the library with that fake alpha! We’re her friends.”
Matsuri went to walk out but stopped and turned her head.
“Dude get control of yourself. Yuzu can hangout with whoever she wants and if you ever lay a finger on her again I seriously will kick your ass.”
Yuzu went to the nurses office and got her wrist wrapped and then went to the library. Once she got to the back she saw that no one was there. She felt a break in her heart and looked down at her wrist feeling her eyes begin to gloss over.
“Okogi, what happened to your wrist?”
Mei delicately pulled Yuzu's wrist to her and began looking it over, which made Yuzu blush and panic a little bit inside.
“Ah it was nothing, just a misunderstanding..”
Mei was about to question more but could tell Yuzu didn’t want her to push the subject.
“Ok. Well let me know if your in pain or need to go home early.”
Yuzu nodded and Mei led them over to the table. Yuzu couldn’t help but smile when she looked down at their hands together and even felt Mei squeeze a bit tighter before letting go to sit down. Normally, Yuzu sat across from Mei but stood behind the chair that was next to her. Yuzu thought for a second it might make Mei uncomfortable if she sat so close but before she could walk to the other side of the table Mei pulled the chair out for her.
“Are you going to sit Okogi?”
Mei gave Yuzu a warm smile and proceeded to take out her books.
Yuzu sat down next to Mei and moved her chair slightly closer.
Thank you Mei.
They were in the middle of talking about other colleges when Mei froze in place and Yuzu felt a fever suddenly come on.
Oh no! Not here! Not now!
Yuzu began searching in her bag for an inhibitor as Mei began to pack up her belongings and then walked away. Yuzu couldn’t blame Mei for leaving, her pheromones were out of control but right as Yuzu found her meds, she went to take it when she realized she had no water.
Damnit..
Right when Yuzu looked up, Mei was standing there holding out a bottle of water.
“Thank you..”
As Yuzu swallowed her pill Mei put the rest of her belongings in her bag.
“Do you need any help?”
Yuzu shook her head and they walked out of the library.
“Mei you don’t have to walk me home.. I know it must be hard..”
Mei didn’t even flinch at Yuzu's pheromones and even stayed right next to her as they walked.
“I’m ok. Let’s just get you home.”
Yuzu's house was another 5 blocks away but Yuzu's fever was getting worse and she was dizzy. Before she knew it she felt her eyes close.
Yuzu woke up suddenly and looked around to find herself in her bed.
“Darling, how are you feeling?”
Yuzu could tell she was still in heat but the inhibitor must’ve been working.
“How did I..?”
Yuzu's mother smiled.
“You have a very good friend. She carried you the rest of the way here after you passed out and even stayed around awhile to make sure you didn’t need to go to the hospital.”
Yuzu immediately turned bright red and started sliding under the covers.
“She… carried me the rest of the way?..”
Yuzu's mother chuckled.
“I assumed she was beta because she didn’t seem affected by your pheromones but when she introduced herself she said she was an alpha. I was amazed at her control.. but anyway I left more inhibitors on your night stand and water. Get some sleep and also don’t forget about next week please.”
Once her mother left the room Yuzu slid underneath her covers and tried to remember how it felt to be carried by Mei. Yuzu began sliding her hand down in between her legs as she remembered the sweet scent of vanilla and a soft voice whispering in her ear. She couldn’t remember clearly but thought she heard ‘Yuzu’.